Improvement in machines for cutting and embossing leather



A. a-ouLn. Machines for Cutting and Embossing Le ather Patent-ed J un'e 30,1874.

Non-52,627.

AM PIIOT0-UTIIMHPIIIC 6'0. M lroseamvifis PRUCESSJ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

APPLETON GOULD, OF BANGOR, MAINE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD HIS RIGHT TO DANIEL C. GOULD, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR CUTTING AND EMBOSSING LEATHER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 152,627, dated June 30, I574; applicationfiled June 3, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, APPLETON GOULD, of Bangor, in the county of Peuobscot and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Cutting and Embossing Leather, 850.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, that will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formiu g a part of this specification, in which--- Figure 1 shows a front view of my invention; Fig.2, a side view of depressing devices; Figs. 3, 4, 5, details of cutting and embossing cylinders; Fig. 6, plan of cutting-bed; Fig. 7, plan and section of embossing-bed for boxloops.

Same letters show like parts. i

The object of my invention is to facilitate the operations of cutting out and embossing articles of leather and similar material. It is particularly intended for the use of harness makers, but is capable of application to other purposes. The method usually employed for cutting straps, &c., is to mark the desired pattern upon the surface of the leather, and to cut it by hand. The creasing or embossing is usually done by hand-creasers, and both operations require much time and labor. My device is capable of cutting and embossing at the same time, or of performing either operation separately. It consists of a revolving shaft carrying a cylinder, around the circumference of which are arranged knives capable of cutting out the desired pattern. Under this cylinder is a revolving drum, serving either as a cutting-surface or a rest for a cuttin g-table. The shaft carrying the cutting-cylinders is so arranged as to be capable of being depressed at will, so as to bring it in contact with the surface of the drum or table, from which it is kept raised when not in use.

Referring to the drawings, a shows a bench or table supporting the bed I) of the machine, which bed is provided with standards 0 0 at each end. slots cl d, in which rest the ends of a shaft, 0, retained therein by means of swinging or re movable caps ff. These slots allow a down- At the top of these standards are ward motion to the shaft 0, which otherwise is kept pressed up by springs g g, or similar devices, resting on supports 71/11 on the standards c 0. Attached to the shaft 6 at each end, preferably by means of hooks passing over it, are rods M, secured below the bench to to a lever, j, operated by the foot. This shaft 0 is so arranged as to be capableof receiving a cylinder, k, having knives Z arranged around its circumference; and also, if desired, embossin g-stamps m. This cylinder is slipped on over the end of the shaft, and secured. in place by a nut, m, or similar device. This allows cylinders of different patterns to be substituted at will, the end of the shaft 6 being removed from the boxes for the purpose. Immediately below the shaft 6 is a second shaft, at, having thereon a drum, 0, which may either serve as a bed for the knife or embossing cylinder, or as a rest for a bed placed on it. Said shaft a is connected with the shaft 6 by gears 12 q, meshed together when the shaft 6 is V drawn down by the foot-lever j, so that both cylinder and drum may be revolved simultaneously. Although, as stated, the drum 0 may be used as a cutting-bed, I prefer a bed of the construction. shown in Fig. 6, at r. This is provided with side pieces 8 8, one of which, 8, is movable, and adjustable by thumb-nuts t t, so that the width between the sides may be made to correspond with the width of the cutting or embossing cylinder employed. The leather to be cut is tacked at each end to the bottom of the bed, which is then placed upon the drum.

The shaft 0 being then pressed down, the

knives are brought to bear on the leather, and the gears 19 q meshed together. The shafts being then revolved, the bed is fed through,

and the cylinder 70 on the shaft 0 cuts or em- I them.

in g springs in between them, and provided with rods and thumb-nuts a; 00, by which they may be adjusted to different widths. The lower edge of one of the side pieces u is chamfered off to allow the winker to project. The loop being placed between said sides, they are clamped by means of the adjusting-nuts, so as to hold it tightly, and it is then run under an embossing-wheel secured on the shaft 0. By this means a square corner is secured for the box-loop-a result which it has been heretofore difficult to attain.

The cutting or embossing cylinders may be secured upon the shaft 0 in any convenient wayas, for instance, by making a stationary collar, 1, on said shaft, against which the cylinder may be placed, and providing a screwthread and nut, 2 3, to retain it in position, or by making a flange on the cylinder, as at Fig. 5, at 4, through which apin may pass into the shaft.

Modifications of the cylinders are shown in Figs. 3, 4i, and 5. Fig. 3 shows a cylinder made in two annular parts, 5 6, having knives attached to each. By this means the width of the strap to be cut may be varied by interposing washers 7 8 between the parts. That shown in Fig. 4 is also made in two parts, 9 10, which are adjustable to different widths by means of right-and-left screws between This form leaves the strap partially uncut at the ends. Fig. 5 shows an emb0ssing-cylinder, to which is attached the flange These cylinders may be above referred to.

made of caststeel, with the knives cast there with, or of other material, to which the knives may be secured afterward, as desired.

WVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a leather cutting and embossing machine, the depressible shaft 0, provided with a cutting or embossing cylinder, in combina tion with a drum-carrying shaft, a, revolving simultaneously therewith, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In combination with the depressible shaft, with its cutting or embossing cylinder, and the drum-carrying shaft n, the supplemental bed or table 4', adjustable to different widths of cylinders, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the depressible shaft, with its cutting or embossing cylinder, and the drum-carrying shaft n, the adjustable bed or clamp a", for embossing box-loops, 850., ar-

ranged and operating substantially as herein described.

4. A cutting-cylinder made in two parts, 5 6, each provided with knives, and adjustable to different widths of straps by right-and-left adjusting-screws between said parts, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of May, 1874.

' APPLETON GOULD. IVitnesses D. G. GOULD, WM. FRANKLIN SEAVEY. 

